Automatic printing machine



Feb. 20, 1951 A. BENAVlDES ET AL 2,542,791

AUTOMATIC PRINTING MACHIJNE Filed Nov. 14, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l FlG.l.

w INVENTORS ALFONSO BENAVIDES 6 jy ULIYP RS,

ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1951 A. BENAVIDES ETAL 2,542,791

AUTOMATIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a g n INVENTORS ALFONSO BENAVIDEB & N BY ULLA PERS,

ATTORN EY 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORS ALFONSO limsvmzs B. BY/ Ll/ ERS.

ATTORNEY A BENAVIDES ETAL AUTOMATIC PRINTING MACHINE Feb.-20, 1951 Flled Nov. 14, 1947 Feb. 20, 1951 A. BENAVIDES ET AL AUTOMATIC PRINTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 14, 1947 INVENTORS ALFONSO BENAVIDES a y ULlyPERS,

- ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1951 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Alfonso Benav-ides and Ulla Pets, Far Rockaway, N. Y.

Application November 14, 1947, Serial No. 785,858 I 14 Claims. (Cl. MIL-186) This invention relates to improvements in methods of and apparatus for printing multicolor pictures or designs upon a continuous strip of fabric or other suitable material, and has particular reference to a method and apparatus as described wherein the fabric to be imprinted is mounted upon a carrier which moves along the frame or base of the apparatus and brings a portion of the fabric into contact with printing plates to imprint particular colors "in successive order. This permits the fabric to be automatically retracted and brings same into proper alignment and register with each successive printing plate. As the carrier advances along the frame during the operation of the apparatus, a section of the fabric makes a rolling contact with the first printing plate and has imprinted thereon the first color of the required group of colors. After the first impression is made the roller contact with the printing plate is broken and allows the fabric to be retracted, relatively with the first printing plate. The carrier, continuing its forward movement brings the portion of the fabric to be imprinted into contact with the next or succeeding printing plate and automatically registers the fabric with. same. The fabric is then given a roller contact with the second printing plate and receives an impression of a different color and after passing said second printing plate the fabric is again retracted and moved forward into register with a third printing plate to resolve a third color impression and so on over a multiplicity of printing plates each printing a section of a different color until the multicolor design is completed.

When the carrier has reached the end of its stroke or movement the fabric is again retracted and the carrier automatically comes to a stop and sets in motion a means to lower a bed cartying the aforesaid printing plates to a predetermined level at which point a means is set in motion to move a series of various colored inking rollers over the said lowered printing plates. After passing over the said printin plates the inking rollers are retracted and as they are retracted they again move over the said printing plates and continue their movement until they are fully retracted whereupon .a means is set in motion to retract the carrier and return it to its starting position. When the carrier reaches the said starting point a means is set in motion to raise the aforesaid bed carrying the saidprinting plates upwardly to its normal printing position.

When the said bed reaches its said uppermost .2 5 position a means is set in motion to move a sueceeding portion of fabric into position for print: ing another multicolor design. 1,

Various mechanical means may be employed to accomplish the successive operations above described as for instance:

1. Numerous gears, cams and clutches may be; employed to accomplish the successive move-. ments of the operation;

2. Pneumatic or hydraulic means may be in-: corporated to achieve the desired result, or

ILA multiplicity of electrically driven motors may be used to give the various successive move-,. ments to the parts wherein the action of the various driving motors is controlled or regulated by. aseries of switches and relays.

In the embodiment herewith shown and described electric motors are employed which are controlled by means of make and break elec-z tric switches operated by contact with a moving; part or'by solenoids and relays interposed in certain circuits'and actuated by means of amoving' part of the apparatus.

One object of this invention is to provide in a method and apparatus as described, means for locking the fabric .in a predetermined positionand keeping same in said fixed position during its printing and retracting movements. a

Another object of this invention is the provision therein of a means for .releasing the saidfabric from its locked position during the winding up process to bring another section of the fabric into position for imprinting.

A further object of this invention is the ins clusion therein of a means for coating the sur: face from which imprint is to be taken with a suitable chemical fluid which will prepare the said printing surface to receive the colored inks imprinted thereon.

A further object of this invention is the provision therein of removable ink trays or containers for carrying the variously colored inks.

Astill further object of this invention is the inclusion therein of reciprocally moving roller frames and rollers for inking the said printing plates.

A'further object of this invention is the in:

clusion therein of means for periodically lower-"Q ing a bed carrying the said printing plates'toallow the said inking rollers to engage upon the plates and raising the said bed after the inking rollers are retracted.

- A further object of this invention is the in.' clusion therein of a means for measuring a predetermined length of fabric which is to be ufactured at reasonable cost, may be easily assembled and which will be efficient in operation with minimum wear to the parts.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following deside member of the carrier.

scription and in the claims wherein parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. In the accompanying drawings there has been illustrated the best embodiment of the invention known to us, but such embodiment is to be regarded as typical onl of many possible embodiments, and the invention is not to be limited thereto.

The novel features considered characteristic of our invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

"Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus employed in the embodiment herein set forth, and having parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a plan or top view with portions broken away.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a part showing one 'of the driving means.

Figure 4 is an end elevation looking into the direction indicated by the arrow X of Figure 2; Figure 5 is an elevational View of the opposite end.

Fig. 5a is an enlarged sectional detail of a part which will be hereinafter described.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail of a part which will be hereinafter explained.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus showing a portion in section and parts broken away.

Figure' 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a detail which will be hereinafter explained.

Figure 9' is a sectional plan View of same along line 99 of Figure 8.

taken Figure 10 is a sectional elevational view taken along line l@--iu of Figure 9.

are held together by cross-rods I8 secured to the said side members in any suitable manner. A

'4 series of rollers are mounted between the said side members 15 and H and comprise a roller I9 which carries the fabric 20, a roller 2! around which the fabric 25 passes to receive a coating fluid, over and partially around a roller 22 downwardly to and partially around and between rollers 23 and 24, thence to and partially around a print contacting roller 25, from whence the fabric passes to and partially around and between a heating roller 26 and a roller 21 on to a pickup roller 28 upon which the fabric is finally wound after receiving various color impressions.

, The said rollers 23 and 24 are mounted in a frame 29 which is in turn slidably mounted upon the side members l6 and ll of the carrier l3, The said frame 29 slides in a slot 35 upon each A second frame 3| slidable in a slot 32 upon each side member is and I1 carries the heater roller 25 and its adjacent contacting roller 21 and is connected with the frame 29 by means of a flexible band v3i) which passes over a pulley 34 upon each side member of the said carrier. A spring 35 is secured at one end to a post 36 upon the side member and at its other end to a pin 31 upon the frame 29 and acts to keep the frame 29 normally in its raised position (Figure DV and its connected frame 3| in its lowermost position.

The fabric 26 is normally held immovable between the rollers 23 and 24 and between the heater roller 25 and its adjacent contacting roller 2? by means of clamping wedge shaped members 38 and 39 respectively which are normally held tightly against the fabric (Figures 1, 6 and 7). by

means of springs 4|] engaging against arms 41. Arms 42, integral with the said arms 4| carry the said wedge shaped members 38 and 39 which ex-v tend across the width of the said carrier between. the said upright members l6 and IT (Figures 4 and 5). Solenoids 43, whose cores 44 engage the arms 4| are adapted to push said arms 4| against the. springs 40 to move the arms 42 out and disengage the said wedges 38-'39 thereby freeing the fabric, when the said solenoids are electrically energized.

Atrough v44 .attached upon the carrier l3,-is fixed between the-side members l5 and I1 and employed to hold a chemicall prepared fluid specially adapted for surface coating the fabric as it passes around the roller 2|. For this purpose a roller brush 45, rotated by means of a beltand pulley connection 45 with the roller 2 l, is mounted in the said trough and applies the said fluid to one side of the fabric (Figure 1).

The carrier [3, as hereinbefore stated, is moved,,,. forward alongthe length of the supporting frame side member of the carrier II and are rotated by worm gear connections 51 and 52, shaft 53, gears 54 and 55 and motor 56. The saidmotor shaft and gears have been omitted from Figure 4 for betterv illustrating purposes but are clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Electric switches which are automatically operated control the forward and backward movements of the carrier II as 'will be hereinafter more fully described.

1A brmti-ng bed 51 is vertically movable in the supporting frame [I and is guided in itsvertical movements by strips 58 upon the said-supporting frame which engage conforming slots 59 in. the said printing bed 51 (Figures 2 and Vertical movement is imparted to the said printing bed by means of threaded supporting rods 69 arranged in pairs (best shown in Figures 4 and 5) and'engaging, at their lower ends, through bores Gland B2 in a cross brace 63 and through a worm gear 64 which is internally threaded to engage the threaded portion of the rods 60. A complementary worm gear 65 engages between and with each gear 64 and is rotated by a shaft 66 to which the said worm gear 85 is attached. A motor, 61,. electrically driven and having a speed reducing mechanism 68 drives the shaft 66 to loweror raise the said printingbed 51. The electrical energy to operate the said motor 6'! is automatically controlled by switches and will be hereinafter fully explained.

1 Resting upon the printing bed 5'! and held thereon by the side strap members 69 (Figure 2) are a series of printing plates tfive in number in the embodiment here shown and described) each plate carrying a different color design which is successively imprinted upon the fabric to form a complete multicolor design.

The aforesaid laterally extending auxiliary frame 42 has slidably mounted-upon it, a series of blocks H carrying, pivotally'attached'thereto as at [2, arms 13 having fork shaped ends 14. Inking rollers are rotatively carried upon the forked ends 14 and have roller engagement with ink transferring rollers 16 whichin turn pick up ink from the contacting rollers "H. The said rollers 11 take up ink' from a'tray or trough l8 tFigures 4, 5 and 10). Racks 19 attached to the underside of each of said blocks H, which carry the inking mechanisms described, engage gears fixed upon a shaft 8! extending from side to side of the laterally extending frame I 2. The said shaft 8| is rotated at proper intervals by an electrically driven motor 82 and geared reducing echanism 83 and the operation of the said motor is controlled by automatically actuated switches as will be hereinafter described:

' At proper intervals, that is, when the printing bed 91 is in its lowermost position (dot-dash lines in Figure 5 the inking-rollers 15 are moved inwardly to contact the'upper or'printing surface of the printing plates 10 and deposit inkthereon and are immediately retractedto their inoperative position. When the inkingmechanism moves in and withdraws from the printing plates 19 the inking rollers 'l 5 are raisedas they pass over the aforementioned strap members 69 to avoid depositing ink thereon. To accomplish this cams 8d are formed upon the auxiliary frame l2 which are engaged by followers 85 formed upon the forked ends 14 of the arms 13. As the followers 85 pass over the cams 84 the inking rollare 15 are raised and held in raised position untilthey" have passed the said s'trapimembers 69.

The rollers ll rotate in each of the said troughs l8 and are mounted upon a shaft 86 whichis given rotary motion by means of a motor 81 con nected'to the shaft 86 by means of'a reducing gear mechanism 98. I i

The aforesaidink roller carrying arms 13 are formed with slots 99 through which a weighted member 99 is adapted to slidably engage and may be secured in any desired position by means of wing nuts 9|. The said wing nuts 9! are formed with depending; threaded bolts 9 la which engage through the said weightedmem'bers-90;

through said slots 89 in the arms 1:3,, through threaded plates 9") and lock nuts 91c (see. Fig. 5d) Upon loosening the said lock nuts 9lcand plates 91b, the weighted members 90 may be moved along the said arms 13 and upon tighten-r ing the plates SH) and lock nuts 91c the said weighted members 99- may be securely fixed in" low access to the ink troughs or trays T8. The

said ink troughs or trays 18 are held in a raised position upon cams 93 (Figures 8, 9 and 10),

which when turned as indicated at 93 bring the bottom of the ink troughs down to the level of -:a shelf 94 from which position they may be man ually removed.

The earns 93 are keyed upon a shaft 95 to oneend of which a lever handle 96 is attached and affords a means to rotate the said cams 93 to lower the troughs T8 for removal from the apparatus or raise same to their upper operating position. When the cams are turned to raise the said troughs the handles 96' are in an upright position and maybe so held by a lidin bolt 91 having a socket end 98 which engages over-the end of said handle. The aforementioned sliding block H moves in a groove 99 formed byla bar 199 which is suitably attached to the top of the said laterally extending supporting frame l2.

When the carrier [3 starts its movement forwarder in the direction indicated by the arrow Y on Figure 1, the roller 25 carrying the fabric around it will contact the strap member 69 and will turn as it rolls over the said strap member. The frictional contact between the roller 25and the strap member 69 will cause the said roller to turn and unroll the fabric 29 over the first printing plate 19 to receive an impression therefrom. At the same time the frame 29, to which the fab ric is locked by means of the wedgeclamp 38, is drawn down against the pressure of the spring 35 and draws up the frame 3| which i tied-t0 the said frame 29 by means of the flexible band 33-.

The fabric 29 being locked to the said frame 34 by means ofthe locking clamp 39 moves up in the slot -32 as indicated in Figure 7. The roller ,25 as shown-in Figure 7 having reached 'theend of the strap 69 rides free of same and reaches thegap betweenthe said first printin plate and the second or succeeding printing plate and its strap member, releasing the frictional pressure and allowing thespring 35 to snap the frame 29 back to its starting or uppermost position and allowing the frame 3| to drop to its lowermost position as shown in Figure 1. At the sametime the fabric 20 is brought back to its original position and ready for an impression from the secand printing plate.

The cycle of operation justmentioned is repeated; as the carrier moves forward, until. all of the printing plates have received their color impressions and the carrier has reached the endof its run by the dot-dash lines in Figure 11 The position of the frames 29 and 3| on the carrier being as shown by the full lines in Figure 1. At this point the carrier stops and the bed 5'! begins to descend and whensame reach their lowermostposition-the printing Toners move in over the from the main line ,III

lowered printing plates 10, are retracted and when fully retracted the carrier starts its retract-. ing movement. r ,7

When the carrier is fully retracted the bed 51 rises to its uppermost level upon reaching which the wedge clamps 38 and 39 are released, to free the fabric,-a motor "II. is actuated and, winds a portion of fabric equivalent to a section required for each printing, the motor IOI stops and the wedge clamps 38 and 39 again come into action to lock the section of fabric to be imprinted in fixed position and the carrier again starts forward repeating the cycle of operations above described. Referring to Figures 4, and 6 of the drawings I02 indicates a measuring device of standard type which controls an electric-circuit to startand stop the motor I0I at proper intervals. In Fig-.

is a connection box having flexible conductors 7 leading to and connecting with the solenoids 43 upon the frames 29 and 3I and with'a commuta tor connection to a heater unit in the heating and drying roller 26. r

Upon the opposite side member I1 of the carrier, similar flexible conductors connect the solenoids 43 and the measurin unit I02 with the source of electrical current. 7

A further detailed description of the operation of the apparatus will be best understood when considered in connection with a detailed description of the electrical hook up shown in the diagram of Figure 11. Referring therefore to the said diagram, the reference numeral III designates one side orline of the main circuit and is common to all circuits while II2 indicate the opposite'sideor line ofrsame. H3 is a switch in the main supply line. All of the switches, except I I3, in the diagram are shown, by full heavy lines, in their normal position just before the operation of the apparatus is started. With the carrier I3 in the startingposition shown by the full lines in Figure 1 and the main switch I I3 closed an electric current flow is established which runs to branch line through motor 56,- line' H5, across contact or switch closing member II6, line II1 to solenoid II8, line II9 across contact members I20 and I2I, line I22, across contact I23, line I24, across con-5' tact I and line I26 to the main line I I2 thereby completing a circuit which'actuates the motor 56 to move the carrier forward. As the carrier starts its forward movement its action releases the contact member I25 and breaks the circuit at that point. To anticipate this break, however, the solenoid II8 which had been electrically energized draws and holds the contact to the position shown by the broken line I21 thereby holding the circuit closed and directing the current from line H1 and solenoid II8 through the line I28 to main line I I2. r V 1 When the carrier reaches the end of its fo,rward movement it trips a mechanism which breaks the circuit by moving the contact II6 to the position shown by the broken line I29, stops the motor 56 and closes a second circuit at that point. The course of this second circuit is through the main line III, line I30 to the motor 61, line I3I across contact I32, line I33, solenoid I34, line I35, across contact I36, line I31, across contact I38, line I39 to contact I29 and line I40 to main line I I2, thus completing the second circuit which actuates the motor 61 to move the printing bed 51;

downwardly to its lowered position. When the 75 whereupon the current flow is divertedalons the;

saidp'rinting bed reaches its lowermost position it-contacts a mechanism which breaks the said.

nisms. This third circuit starts at the mainline II'I, runs through the motor 82, line I42, acrossv contact I43, line I44, solenoid I45, line I46, across contact I41, line I48, across contact I4I, line I49, line I50 across contact I5I and line I52 to the: main line .I I2 thereby completing the third circult which starts the motor 82 to drive the inking mechanism into the apparatus and over the printing plates 10 upon the printingbed 51. As the printing mechanism starts its movement forward itsaction allows the contact I41 to move inwardly to the position shownby the broken line I53 and breaks the circuit at I41. Anticipat-i ing this break, the solenoid I45 which is electrically energized draws the contact I36 to the position shown by the broken line I54 to keep the said third circuit closed until the said inking mechanism reaches the end of its movement and breaks the third circuit at I43 and moves the said. contact I43 to the position shown by the broken line I55 thereby stopping the motor 82.

When the contact I55 closes the line at the point indicated. a fourth circuit is established which beginning at the main line I I I runs through the motor 82, line I56, across contact I53, line I51, to solenoid I58, line I59, across contact I55, and through branch lines I55 and I55" to main line I I2 thus completing the fourth circuit which reverses the rotation of the motor to retractthe inking mechanism. As the inking mechanism starts its retracting movement the contact I55 moves to I43 breaking the circuit at I55. The solenoid I58, however being electrically energized draws down the contact I38 to the posi-, tion indicated by the broken line I60 and maintains the said fourth circuit closed until the printing mechanism is fully retracted and breaks the circuit at I53 to stop the motor-82.

,The movement of the contact I41 also operates a snap switch I6I, a fraction of a secondbefore it closes the open circuit at I41, and sets up a fifth circuit to reverse the motor 56 and retract the carrier I3. This fifth circuit leads from the mainline III, to branch line II I, through, motor 56, line I62, acrosscontact I63 (the present position of contact I25), line I64, line I65, solenoid I66, line I61, solenoid I68, line I69, snap switch I6I, line I10 and line I1I to main line II2 completing the fifth circuit to reverse the motor '56; and retractthe carrier. The snap switch I6I acts momentarily to energize the solenoid I68 to' draw down the contact I5I and holding the circuit closed by bringingthe branch line I12 into the circuit and keeping said fifth circuit closed until the carrier is fully retracted. 1

At the end of its retracting movement thercarrier brings'the contact I25 back to its original position shown by the heavy line but, a fraction of a second before contact is made at; I25, a snap switch is engaged to set up a circuit to reverse the rotation of the motor 61 and bring the printing bed 51 back to its upper level. This current flow runs from the main line I I I, through branch; line I30, motor 61, line I14, across the contact I15 (dotted line), line I16, solenoid I11, line I18, snap switch I13, and line I19 to main line -II2 energizing the solenoid i11 to hold down the con-, tact I2I as indicated by the broken line I 9 line IBI to the main line H2. This sixthicircuit is held closed until the printing bed is fully raised whereuponthis circuit is broken at contact I15 and closed-at "I82, stopping the motor 61 and bringing the printing bed 51 to rest at its upper working level.

The closing oithe'contact at I82 sets up a seventh circuit which actuates the solenoids E3 to release the fabric locking wedge clamps 98 and 39 as has been heretofore described, and then, almost simultaneously, actuates the motor IIH which winds up the fabric upon the roll 28. The current flow through this seventh circuit passes from the main line III, through line I84, across contact I26, through line I35, line I86, to solenoids 43, through said solenoids, line I81, across contact I 82 and along line I88 to main line I'I2 thereby completingthe said seventh circuit which actuated the solenoids -33 to release the fabric 20. At the same time one of the said solenoids closes a branch circuit at I89 thereby establishing a current flow from line I97 through line I 99, across contact I89 which is now in the position indicated by the dotted line I89, from the contact the flow is through line I9I, across contact I92, line I93, solenoid I94, line 195, line I85, across contact I26, and along line I84 to main line IIZ thereby completing the said seventh circuit and energizing the solenoid I94 to move the contact I23 to the position shown by broken line I96 and close a circuit which runs from the mainlin III, through branch lines IM and I91, through motor Illl, line I98, across contact I95, and along line I-99 to main line H2 thus completing a circuit which actuates the motor IllI and turns the wind up roller 28. The circuit which energizes the solenoid I 9&- is controlled by an adjustable cam .298 and follower 29I adapted to make and break the said circuit at the contact I92 and the said cam 299 is motivated by a measuring device I92 geared to the heater roller 26 as hereto- .fore described. The action of the electrically energized solenoid I99 also serves to break the circuit atthe contact I23'preventing the operation of the motor 59 to drive the carrier forward at this time. When the cam 299 and its follower ZIlI breaks the circuit at the contact I92, the circuit to'the motor i9! is also broken at I96 and the circuit to operate the motor 56 is reestablished to restart the complete cycle of operation just described.

A motor 8'! which is employed to give continucos-rotation to the ink rollers H is supplied with electrical current by the lines 292, 289, 284 and 295 and needs no further explanation except that it operates independentlyv of all other circuits and may be provided with a switch (not shown) to stop its operation if so desired,

A heater element which may be an electrical resistance unit 296 or a series of infra-red units is located within the heater ro1ler'29 and is electrically energized by a current flow through line 292 from the main line I l I, through lines 291, 288 and 205 to the main line H2 and it also may be supplied with an individual cut out switch (not shown) so that same may be independently controlled.

After the circuit passing through the solenoid 598 is broken by the action of the cam 200 and the forward drive for the carrier is started the said solenoid circuit is also broken at the contact I26. At this point a second cam 299, concentric with or operatively connected with the cam 299 closes a circuit by moving a contact M8 to the position shown by the broken line 2II momen Ill) tarily directing a circuit from the main line I 12,

along line 2I2, across contact 2i I, along line-218' to line I98 through motor IOI, line I91, and line Ill to main line III, thereby turning the motor IIH a short distance or far enough to reset the contact I92. The contact 2I I being then released to stop the motor In I.

The switches, solenoids or relays are of a regulation type, at present obtainable in the market, and the wiring is standard. The hook up however, may vary and that shown herewith is but one arrangement of units to accomplish the re sult desired.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for printing multicolor designs upon sheet material, a supporting frame, a vertically reciprocating printing bed thereon, a series of printing plates upon the said printing bed, a carrier reciprocally movable upon said supporting frame, rollers mounted upon said-carrier adapted to carry and guide a sheet of material through the carrier, a pair of rollers mounted in vertically and reciprocally movable sliding frames upon said carrier, a means upon the carrier coordinating with the said sliding frame to hold same normally in its uppermost position, a second pair of rollers mounted in a second slid ing frame vertically and reciprocally movable up: on said carrier, a flexible supporting band connecting both said sliding frames and engaging over a pulley upon said carrier and adapted to move said sliding frames in unison, an impression roller upon the carrier, the said sheet material adapted to engage partly around said impression roller and partly around and, between the said first and second pair of rollers mounted upon said sliding frames, means for locking the said sheet material between the said pairs of rollers, means ior moving the said carrier to roll the sheet ma terial, in consecutive order, over said series of printing plates, means for retracting the sheet material after having roller contact with "each successive printing plate during the movement of the carrier, inking rollers reciprocally movable over said printing beds to ink the said printing plates carried thereon, means for registering the said sheet material as the said impression roller contacts each successive printing plate, automatically operated means for locking and'releasing the sheet material and means for moving same to bring a succeeding section of the sheet material into line for printing.

2. The apparatus for printing multicolor de signs upon sheet material as set forth in claim 1 wherein electrically operated means are provided for moving the said inking rollers over the said printing plates and retracting same after the said printing plates are inked. i i

3. The apparatus for printing multicolor designs upon sheet material as set forth in claim 1 wherein electrically operated means are provided whereby the said printing bed carrying the printing plates is lowered to allow said inking rollers to move over same, and means for raising the said printing bed after the said printing plates have been inked and the inking rollers have been retracted.

4. The apparatus for printing multicolor designs upon sheet material as set forth in claim 1 including a trough, upon said reciprocating carrier, containing a chemical coating fluid, a cylindrical brush rotatable upon said carrier and engaging said fluid in trough to apply said chemical fluid to the surface of said sheet material, a guide roller to hold the said sheet material in the said sheet material.

5. The apparatus for printing multicolor designs upon sheet material as set forth in claim 1,

including a means for measuring the sheet material'as it moves intermitte'ntlythrough the paired rollers upon said vertically and reciprocally moving sliding frames. 6. The apparatus for printing multicolor designs upon sheet material asset forth in claim 1, including ink troughs and ink distributing rollers operating therein for supplying ink to the'said inking rollers.

' 7. In an apparatus for printing multicolor designsupon sheet material as set forth in claim 1, including means for lifting the said ink rollers as they pass over the side of the said supporting frame inking mechanism and inking roller, for inking the said printing plates, means for lowering the said printing plates, means for lifting the said inking roller during part of its movement. 8. An apparatus for printing multicolor designs upon sheet material, comprising a supporting frame, a printing bed vertically and reciprocally movable'in said supporting frame, a series of printing plates upon the said printing bed, a carrier reciprocally movable upon said supporting frame and carrying upon it sheet material a series of printing plates upon the saidprinting bed, an impression roller upon said reciprocally moving carrier, the said impression roller adapted to engage and guide the said sheet material into rolling contact over said series of printing plates to receive color impressions therefrom, inking rollers pivotally attached upon a block, reciprocally sliding 'upon said supporting frame and adapted to ink the said printing plates, irLk trays and rollers for supplying variously colored inks to said inking rollers, means for intermittently moving a section of the sheet material upon the carrier as each preceding section of said sheet material has been imprinted and'means to sueces- L sively move, in the following order, the said carrier forward, lower the said printing bed, move the said inking rollers in from the side to and upon said printing plates, retract the said inking rollers, retract said carrier, raise the said prin ing bed and move a section of the said sheet material to bring a succeeding section of same into position for printing. 9. An apparatus for .printing multicolor designs upon sheet material as set forth in claim 8 wherein wedge-shaped locking members engaging with said guide rollers upon said sliding frames to alternately lock and release said sheet material and solenoids upon said sliding'frames to,

. actuate said wedge locking members to hold or release, at predetermined intervals, thesaid sheet material areprovided for intermittently locking and releasing the said sheet material.

10. An apparatus for printing multicolor designs upon sheet material as set forth in claim 8, including a trough, containing a chemical fluid, mounted in said carrier, a rotary brush engaging fluid in said trough and means for rotating said brush to apply a chemical coating to the printing surface of said sheet material with a chemical fluid,

11. The apparatus for printing multicolor designs upon sheet material as set forth in claim 8, wherein an impression roller is provided upon said carrier and is adapted to roll the said sheet material into contact with the said printing plates and wherein strap elements are provided upon the edges of said printing plates to give frictional contact to the said impression roller as it presses the said sheet material upon said printing plates. 12. The apparatus for printing multicolor designs upon sheet material as set forth in claim v8,

wherein a measuring unit is provided for meas-- uring the sheet material as each section of same is moved for succeeding printings.

13. The apparatus 'for printing multicolor de signs upon sheet material as set forth in claim 8, wherein means are provided to release the sheet material after same receives an imprint from each successive printing plate.

14. An apparatus for printing multicolor designs upon sheet material as defined in claim 8, including an electrically driven motor, coacting with connecting gears and drive shaft to impart reciprocal motion to the said reciprocating carrier, a motor and coacting gears to raise and lower said printing bed, am otor to give reciprocal motion to the said inking rollers, a motor to intermittently motivate the said sheet material through the machine, a series of electrical circuits having intercommunicating connections with the said motors, said circuits having switches automatically controlled by the successive action ofthe reciprocating printing bed, reciprocating inking rollers and supplementary switches in the circuits.

ALFONSO BENAVIDES. ULLA PERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

